Lionel carried Chloe in his arms and sprinted out to the courtyard. Just as he arrived, Barton pulled up in the car with a sharp screech, stopping right at Lionel's feet.Without hesitation, Lionel climbed in, and the Maybach shot out of the gates like an arrow. Florence and Joanna arrived moments later, only catching a fleeting glimpse of the speeding car."Chloe...wake up. Don't scare me..." Lionel patted Chloe's pale face, his usual composure shattered. The ever-cold and reserved man couldn't hide the tremor in his voice.Chloe remained motionless, eyes tightly shut, as if all life had drained from her body. Blood had already soaked through her nightgown, staining Lionel's pants as well.With trembling hands, he touched her face. A man who could remain unfazed even if the sky were to fall was now unable to bear the sight of the crimson pooling beneath her. His reddened eyes filled with moisture, a single tear slipping down and landing softly on C
Chloe lost her child, and Joanna couldn't contain her delight. She hummed a cheerful tune, suddenly finding everyone pleasant to look at and treating everyone with uncharacteristic warmth and kindness.Mandy, on the other hand, was seething with resentment, while Grace spent her days on edge, terrified of Lionel's return and the punishment that might await her.A week passed, and Chloe finally returned from the hospital.Joanna, who had been all smiles for days, found her grin vanishing the moment she laid eyes on Chloe.In her mind, Chloe had tried to use the child in her womb to secure her place, and now that she had lost the baby, her bargaining chip was gone. Even if she didn't take her own life, she should at least be devastated—frail, despondent, a step away from death.Yet, after a week, Chloe looked radiant, her complexion even more glowing than before!There was no sign of grief over losing her child—she was laughing and
Joanna burned with jealousy, seething with anger as she stormed in. She grabbed Chloe off the bed and dragged her out, ready to feed her to the wolves.Bitch!Normally, Joanna could let things slide, but not now. What the hell was this? She'd just had a miscarriage a week ago, barely gotten back home, and now she was back in bed with a man?!Joanna cursed Chloe fiercely in her mind, but then, oddly, a sense of satisfaction crept in. She knew that a woman who had just miscarried shouldn't be anywhere near a man in bed. That was basic knowledge. But the fact that Lionel didn't care about Chloe's condition, that he was dragging her into bed as soon as he got home—well, that only proved one thing: he saw her as nothing more than a tool.If he truly loved her, he would have been more considerate!This meant that in Lionel's eyes, Chloe was nothing special either!Ha! What was there to be angry about now?Let them have their fun, let them wreck her completely, turn her into trash.Joanna fe
In the morning, Chloe and Lionel walked downstairs to find Joanna already seated at the dining table."Good morning, Lion, Chloe," Joanna greeted them with a graceful smile, delicately sipping her milk.Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Chloe's neck, and as expected, the marks from last night's kiss were still clearly visible.The sounds she overheard at the door yesterday flashed through Joanna's mind. Bitch! she cursed silently.Lionel ignored Joanna's greeting, and Chloe merely snorted in response. They both sat down to breakfast. As usual, Lionel fussed over Chloe, fetching this and that for her, while Joanna seemed to vanish into thin air, like a mere background figure.Since Lionel had ordered Lumina to be blacklisted, all those who once courted favor with K Group had severed ties with the company, leaving Lumina on the brink of collapse.While Lionel was listening to Barton's report, his phone rang.It was his father. Immediately, Lionel's face darkened."What is it?" he asked,
In the morning, Chloe and Lionel walked downstairs to find Joanna already seated at the dining table."Good morning, Lion, Chloe," Joanna greeted them with a graceful smile, delicately sipping her milk.Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Chloe's neck, and as expected, the marks from last night's kiss were still clearly visible.The sounds she overheard at the door yesterday flashed through Joanna's mind. Bitch! she cursed silently.Lionel ignored Joanna's greeting, and Chloe merely snorted in response. They both sat down to breakfast. As usual, Lionel fussed over Chloe, fetching this and that for her, while Joanna seemed to vanish into thin air, like a mere background figure.Since Lionel had ordered Lumina to be blacklisted, all those who once courted favor with K Group had severed ties with the company, leaving Lumina on the brink of collapse.While Lionel was listening to Barton's report, his phone rang.It was his father. Immediately, Lionel's face darkened."What is it?" he asked,
Chloe stood in front of the mirror, her eyes cast downward, revealing only her long, delicate lashes. Her jade-like face had a hint of alluring pink, and her rounded, upturned nose was a striking perfection. Her lips, though devoid of any lipstick, were still irresistibly rosy and moist.Suddenly, she glanced at the clock on the wall; it was the umpteenth time she had checked the time. The hands pointed to 9 PM. She curved her lips into a radiant smile at her reflection, looking as breathtaking as a goddess fallen to earth.Today was Valentine's Day, and like other couples, Chloe was also preparing to spend a romantic evening with her boyfriend, Amos.Thinking of Amos's warm and handsome face, Chloe couldn't help but smile, despite pressing her lips together.She checked the time again—9:05 PM. Chloe's delicate brows furrowed slightly.They had agreed yesterday, when they parted, to have dinner together tonight and plan the rest of the evening. However, Amos later sent a message sayin
Not far away, she saw the woman's black lace underwear intertwined suggestively with a pair of bright red boxers.She wouldn't be naïve enough to think this was some kind of strip show between a man and a woman.The clothes were strewn about so chaotically and intimately that just looking at them made her blush, further fueling her imagination of the intense passion that had erupted here.The sounds coming from inside the room were clear, as if to confirm her worst fears. Each moan, louder than the last, made it impossible for her to pretend she didn't understand."Amos, Amos... ah..." The woman's voice, laced with desire, called out sweetly.The response was a series of deep, heavy breaths.Chloe's face turned deathly pale. She bit her lip hard, her vision blurring as her trembling hands gripped the phone tightly.How absurd. She had been waiting for him since 5 PM, anxious and restless, not even drinking a sip of tea just to be ready for him.She struggled to move her feet forward,
A week laterBlues Bar, located on a somewhat secluded street, hadn't always done well in business, but ever since Chloe started working there, the place had become more popular by the day.Her music was like a spell, capable of calming people's anger, bringing them joy, and making them feel completely at ease.For an entire week, Chloe had been missing. The bar owner, Mag, had tried calling her so many times that her phone was nearly dead, but she still couldn't reach her.Customers were growing more restless, almost to the point of tearing the bar apart.Tonight, the bar was packed again, and with only five minutes left until showtime, there was still no sign of Chloe. Mag was starting to sweat with worry.Standing on her toes, Mag anxiously scanned the bar, and finally, she saw a figure dressed in white appear around the corner. She couldn't contain her excitement and shouted, "She's here! Chloe's here!"Instantly, the bar fell silent. As Chloe stepped inside, hundreds of pairs of
In the morning, Chloe and Lionel walked downstairs to find Joanna already seated at the dining table."Good morning, Lion, Chloe," Joanna greeted them with a graceful smile, delicately sipping her milk.Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Chloe's neck, and as expected, the marks from last night's kiss were still clearly visible.The sounds she overheard at the door yesterday flashed through Joanna's mind. Bitch! she cursed silently.Lionel ignored Joanna's greeting, and Chloe merely snorted in response. They both sat down to breakfast. As usual, Lionel fussed over Chloe, fetching this and that for her, while Joanna seemed to vanish into thin air, like a mere background figure.Since Lionel had ordered Lumina to be blacklisted, all those who once courted favor with K Group had severed ties with the company, leaving Lumina on the brink of collapse.While Lionel was listening to Barton's report, his phone rang.It was his father. Immediately, Lionel's face darkened."What is it?" he asked,
In the morning, Chloe and Lionel walked downstairs to find Joanna already seated at the dining table."Good morning, Lion, Chloe," Joanna greeted them with a graceful smile, delicately sipping her milk.Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Chloe's neck, and as expected, the marks from last night's kiss were still clearly visible.The sounds she overheard at the door yesterday flashed through Joanna's mind. Bitch! she cursed silently.Lionel ignored Joanna's greeting, and Chloe merely snorted in response. They both sat down to breakfast. As usual, Lionel fussed over Chloe, fetching this and that for her, while Joanna seemed to vanish into thin air, like a mere background figure.Since Lionel had ordered Lumina to be blacklisted, all those who once courted favor with K Group had severed ties with the company, leaving Lumina on the brink of collapse.While Lionel was listening to Barton's report, his phone rang.It was his father. Immediately, Lionel's face darkened."What is it?" he asked,
Joanna burned with jealousy, seething with anger as she stormed in. She grabbed Chloe off the bed and dragged her out, ready to feed her to the wolves.Bitch!Normally, Joanna could let things slide, but not now. What the hell was this? She'd just had a miscarriage a week ago, barely gotten back home, and now she was back in bed with a man?!Joanna cursed Chloe fiercely in her mind, but then, oddly, a sense of satisfaction crept in. She knew that a woman who had just miscarried shouldn't be anywhere near a man in bed. That was basic knowledge. But the fact that Lionel didn't care about Chloe's condition, that he was dragging her into bed as soon as he got home—well, that only proved one thing: he saw her as nothing more than a tool.If he truly loved her, he would have been more considerate!This meant that in Lionel's eyes, Chloe was nothing special either!Ha! What was there to be angry about now?Let them have their fun, let them wreck her completely, turn her into trash.Joanna fe
Chloe lost her child, and Joanna couldn't contain her delight. She hummed a cheerful tune, suddenly finding everyone pleasant to look at and treating everyone with uncharacteristic warmth and kindness.Mandy, on the other hand, was seething with resentment, while Grace spent her days on edge, terrified of Lionel's return and the punishment that might await her.A week passed, and Chloe finally returned from the hospital.Joanna, who had been all smiles for days, found her grin vanishing the moment she laid eyes on Chloe.In her mind, Chloe had tried to use the child in her womb to secure her place, and now that she had lost the baby, her bargaining chip was gone. Even if she didn't take her own life, she should at least be devastated—frail, despondent, a step away from death.Yet, after a week, Chloe looked radiant, her complexion even more glowing than before!There was no sign of grief over losing her child—she was laughing and
Lionel carried Chloe in his arms and sprinted out to the courtyard. Just as he arrived, Barton pulled up in the car with a sharp screech, stopping right at Lionel's feet.Without hesitation, Lionel climbed in, and the Maybach shot out of the gates like an arrow. Florence and Joanna arrived moments later, only catching a fleeting glimpse of the speeding car."Chloe...wake up. Don't scare me..." Lionel patted Chloe's pale face, his usual composure shattered. The ever-cold and reserved man couldn't hide the tremor in his voice.Chloe remained motionless, eyes tightly shut, as if all life had drained from her body. Blood had already soaked through her nightgown, staining Lionel's pants as well.With trembling hands, he touched her face. A man who could remain unfazed even if the sky were to fall was now unable to bear the sight of the crimson pooling beneath her. His reddened eyes filled with moisture, a single tear slipping down and landing softly on C
By dinnertime, Lionel had returned.Chloe came downstairs, deliberately carrying a bowl that Mandy had secretly taken from the kitchen for her. She placed it on the table in front of Joanna and Grace.With a bright smile, she turned to Joanna and said, "Joanna, your cooking is amazing! I'd love to learn from you someday."Joanna's delicate face stiffened for a moment before quickly returning to normal. She brushed her hair back and replied, "Oh no, I didn't make this. It was Grace. Right, Grace?"Joanna's fair complexion glowed under the lights as she turned her gaze to Grace, showing no hint of discomfort.However, Grace trembled when she was suddenly called out. Her lips twitched, and she stammered, "I—I...""Oh, Grace, why are you suddenly so shy? Everyone in this house knows how great your cooking is! Even the nutritionist says they want to learn from you."Joanna chuckled softly, but her eyes flickered with a sharp warning as she discreetly shot Grace a glare."I—I..." Grace was
Florence carried a steaming bowl of soup and knocked on the door. When she heard Chloe's response, she pushed the door open and entered. Chloe had already changed into a loose, comfortable outfit."Chloe, have something to eat." Florence placed the tray on the windowsill and turned to leave."Wait," Chloe called out immediately.Florence stopped in her tracks. Truthfully, she was curious about what Chloe and Alex had discussed at the café, given they had spent quite some time there.While she wanted to believe that there was nothing between them, the lack of a reasonable explanation left her feeling uneasy. However, she was also afraid that Chloe might find out she had been following her.So, in reality, she had no real intention of leaving. The moment Chloe called her, she stopped right away, turning back with a look of anticipation.Chloe smirked internally. How could she not see through Florence's hesitation?Yet, just like Lionel, Florence had too much pride to admit it."Sit down
"Come here." Lionel beckoned to Chloe.Chloe hesitated as she descended the stairs, her voice laced with concern. "I... I didn't do it on purpose..."Before she could finish, Lionel pulled her into his embrace, his tone gentle. "It's fine. Also, don't be upset..."What worried Lionel most was Chloe bottling up her emotions and quietly fuming.He knew that even though she had outwardly agreed to let him handle the matter, she must still feel uneasy deep down.A crowd like this irritated him—let alone a woman carrying his child."I... I won't." Chloe shook her head lightly. She said that, but deep inside, a trace of annoyance lingered.Joanna returned after seeing the guests off, only to find Lionel and Chloe cozily nestled on the sofa, completely lost in each other.Pfft—She almost spat out blood in rage.How could there be such a stark contrast?!Just moments ago, she had acted coy and demure, trying to please him, but Lionel had been utterly indifferent—no, worse than that—disgusted
The group took their seats.Jacob clenched his fists, his liver practically aching with anger at Lionel's arrogance. Madge had to throw him several warning glances to keep him from lashing out.If it weren't for the fact that the wedding was fast approaching, and provoking Lionel might jeopardize the whole thing, Jacob would have loved nothing more than to punch him."Lion, Joanna hasn't been giving you any trouble, has she?" Samuel took a sip of tea, carefully observing Lionel's expression.Lionel raised a brow. "Trouble? How could she? She's gentle, virtuous, and understanding."Whether Joanna was truly good or not wasn't for him to say—soon enough, they'd all see her true colors.Samuel's lips twitched. Lionel's indifferent tone made it impossible to tell if he was being sincere or sarcastic, so he could only chuckle awkwardly and sip his tea."Lion, everything is nearly ready on the Astralis side. Make sure your preparations are flawless—it has to be the best in the world! We can'